Negros Oriental is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Visayas Region (Region VII). It occupies the southeastern half of Negros Island, with Negros Occidental comprising the northwestern half. The province has a total land area of 5,420.57 square kilometers and is composed of 19 municipalities, 6 cities, and 557 barangays. Dumaguete City serves as the capital and is also the most populous city in the province. The name 'Negros' is derived from the Spanish word for 'black,' referring to the dark-skinned native inhabitants encountered by early Spanish explorers.

History

Negros Oriental is a province in the Philippines with a rich history that dates back to pre-Hispanic times. Before the arrival of the Spanish, the island was known as 'Buglas,' named after a type of tall grass, and was inhabited by indigenous groups such as the Ata and Bukidnon peoples. Spanish explorers arrived in 1565, and the term 'Negros' was later applied to the island, referring to the dark-skinned native inhabitants. In 1734, Negros was separated from Cebu and became an independent military district. On January 1, 1890, a royal decree officially divided the island into Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, with Dumaguete designated as the capital of the latter. During the Philippine Revolution in 1898, the Provincial Revolutionary Government was established in Dumaguete under Don Demetrio Larena. The American period brought the establishment of Silliman University in 1901, which became a significant center of education and culture. World War II brought Japanese occupation, but the province continued to recover and develop in the post-war years. In 1971, the island of Siquijor was separated to become an independent province. In more recent history, the Negros Island Region was created in 2015 but later dissolved in 2017, shaping the administrative landscape of the province today. Negros Oriental's history reflects a rich blend of indigenous traditions, Spanish and American influences, and modern developments that define its unique cultural identity.